Navigator Week 17: Your FAFSA and State Aid Applications

Welcome to Week 17! Important Dates and Deadlines: Date #1 Date #2 Last Week, We: Defined “financial aid” and discussed the different types Created a personalized financial aid action plan Signed up for a FAFSA pin (page 188) This Week We Will: Discuss the history of financial aid in the US Explore the process of getting federal financial aid Deconstruct and demystify the FAFSA form Fill out the FAFSA Track our FAFSA actions on CSNav (milestone) Add any important dates (see Navigator EE page 189). Review last week’s accomplishments and preview this week’s steps 2

Is education a right for everyone, or a privilege for a few? Think It Through: Is education a right for everyone, or a privilege for a few? Use Navigator EE page 190 to facilitate this debate. 3

History of Financial Aid in the US STEP 1: Discuss the history and purpose of federal financial aid. History of Financial Aid in the US 1643: The first scholarship was awarded to a worthy student at Harvard University. 1862: Abraham Lincoln signs the Land Grant Act, making affordable state schools a reality for students all across America. 1944: The GI Bill is passed, making postsecondary education free for veterans of the Armed Forces. 1954: The College Scholarship Service (CSS) standardizes the formula used to determine “need.” 1958: Congress passed the “National Defense Education Act,” making financial aid for low-income students a topCold War priority. 1964: The Economic Opportunity Act creates the first Work-study Program. 1965: The Higher Education Act creates the Federal financial aid program, giving millions of dollars in loans, grants and scholarships to young people all over America. Over the next 40 years, laws pass expanding the Federal financial aid program so that all students regardless of socio-economic background, race, or citizenship status can find funding for their postsecondary plans in the US. 2008: President-elect Barack Obama states that higher education is a right for all Americans regardless of socioeconomic background. 2010: Major changes in federal financial aid programs are passed that impact students: simplification of the FAFSA and changes to the federal loan programs. Source: History of Financial Aid Center for Higher Education and Support Services <http://www.chessconsulting.org/financialaid/history.htm> Use Navigator EE page 191 to review the history 4

…plus more free money from your state and colleges! STEP 1: Discuss the history and purpose of federal financial aid. When you fill out FAFSA, you qualify for… Perkins Loans Stafford Loans Pell Grants Plus Loans Federal Work-Study …plus more free money from your state and colleges! Use Navigator EE page 191 to explain each of these loan programs 5

FAFSA The free application for federal student aid. FREE. STEP 2: Define FAFSA and list the steps for getting federal financial aid FAFSA The free application for federal student aid. FREE. Available online. You need a PIN. So do your parents or guardians. Quick. Did we mention it’s FREE? Use Navigator EE pages 192-3 to explain FAFSA 6

STEP 2: Define FAFSA and list the steps for getting federal financial aid Five Steps Free Money Step 1: Register for a PIN online (see Navigator page 188 for directions) Step 2: Fill out the FAFSA form Step 3: Submit your FAFSA, sign it electronically, and wait! Step 4: Review your SAR and EFC Step 5: Accept your SAR or appeal your SAR Use Navigator EE pages 192-3 to explain FAFSA 7

SAR EFC Estimated Family Contribution Determined from your FAFSA STEP 2: Define FAFSA and list the steps for getting federal financial aid EFC Estimated Family Contribution Determined from your FAFSA Used to create your SAR Based on: Net and gross income, # of dependents and other tax information Estimate yours using CSNav’s EFC Calculator SAR Student Aid Report Determined from your EFC Used by colleges to create financial aid packages for you Use Navigator EE pages 192-3 to explain FAFSA 8

What if you don’t qualify? STEP 2: Define FAFSA and list the steps for getting federal financial aid Who qualifies? All US citizens who plan to attend an accredited 2- or 4-year college in the next year What if you don’t qualify? [TEACHERS insert instructions here for undocumented students, such as:] See me privately after class See the guidance counselor privately to discuss your options…YOU DO HAVE OPTIONS! Use Navigator EE pages 192-3 to explain FAFSA 9

STEP 3: Identify the main components of the FAFSA application Use Navigator EE pages 194-198 to explain FAFSA’s sections, or lead a FAFSA Jigsaw group work activity 10

Questions you will be asked: Who are you? STEP 3: Identify the main components of the FAFSA application Questions you will be asked: Who are you? Are you a dependent of someone else, or are you independent? How much money did you make last year? Men: Did you register for Selective Service? Everyone: Have you ever been convicted of a federal offense? Use Navigator EE pages 194-198 to explain FAFSA’s sections, or lead a FAFSA Jigsaw group work activity 11

Questions they will be asked: Who are you? STEP 3: Identify the main components of the FAFSA application Questions they will be asked: Who are you? How much money did you make last year? What tax deductions do you claim each year? Do you own property? Use Navigator EE pages 194-198 to explain FAFSA’s sections, or lead a FAFSA Jigsaw group work activity 12

Questions you will be asked: Where are you applying? STEP 3: Identify the main components of the FAFSA application Questions you will be asked: Where are you applying? What year will you be in (freshman, sophomore, etc)? Use Navigator EE pages 194-198 to explain FAFSA’s sections, or lead a FAFSA Jigsaw group work activity 13

When you think you’re ready to submit FAFSA: STEP 4: Complete the FAFSA student and parent sections online or on paper and log the date you submitted it on CSNav. When you think you’re ready to submit FAFSA: Find a peer or an adult you trust Ask your partner to review Receive feedback from your partner Make the changes suggested Do a “Final Review” yourself Submit! Track your actions on CSNav Use Navigator EE page 198 14

STEP 5: Fill out your state financial aid forms (if applicable) [teacher insert facts about your state’s financial aid process here. Use Navigator page 199 or the “Regional Maps” at the back for guidance] Use Navigator EE page 199 15

Week 17 Summary This Week We: Discussed the history of financial aid in the US Explored the process of getting federal financial aid Deconstructed and demystified the FAFSA form Filled out the FAFSA Tracked our FAFSA actions on CSNav (milestone) ***REMINDERS Free money is “first come, first served.” Fill out FAFSA no later than February 15th to maximize your award! Watch your mailbox and email box for information from the US Department of Education. Your EFC and SAR should come soon! See Week 19 for information on how to interpret, accept, or reject your SAR. Summarize the work, Navigator page 100 16

CSNav How-to: FAFSA Milestone See Navigator EE page 143B for instructions on how to complete the ACT or SAT milestone. 17

Your Portfolio > College Planning Today, we’ll track your progress on your financial aid applications. Click on Your Portfolio to begin. Have students click on the “College Planning” icon at the top. Choose this option if students have applied on the college’s website or on paper.

Your Portfolio > College Planning Portfolio All of your work on CSNav is saved in Your Portfolio. Click on Financial Planning Portfolio. Click here, or here. Point out to students that now, “Your Portfolio” is bright blue.

Your Portfolio > College Planning Portfolio FAFSA is the first box at the top. Use the drop down boxes to select the date you submitted your FAFSA. Point out to students that now, “Your Portfolio” is bright blue. Be sure to click “save” to earn your check mark!

Your Portfolio > College Planning Portfolio You should see your FAFSA submission status updated with the date. Congratulations! Milestone complete.

Postsecondary Plans > College Applications and Recruiting Use the drop-down menu that appears to choose the name of a school from your College List. If students do not see the name of the school they applied to in the drop down, they must add it to their “saved colleges” list before proceeding.

Your Planning Milestones To see your checkmark, go back to “Home” by clicking on the icon on the top of the page. Then, click “Your Planning Milestones” to see your checkmarks. Skip this slide if students already know how to check their planning milestones.